Need to be on time? Forget this flight

Passengers flying into Fort Lauderdale from Newark, N.J., with any hope of arriving on time should avoid JetBlue Flight 515.

The airline's last flight of the day from Newark International Airport has the worst single on-time record of any flight in the nation, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The 8:50 p.m. flight, which is scheduled to arrive at 11:49 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale, was late 100 percent of the time in the month of February. The average delay was 69 minutes.

"We have no control over that," said Gregory Meyer, spokesman for the airport. "We can't fly the plane for them."

Steve Belleme, the airport's 13-year business development manager, said he doesn't recall an airline flying into Fort Lauderdale ever being the recipient of the "worst" on-time record. JetBlue is the Fort Lauderdale airport's No. 2 carrier in terms of passengers; Spirit Airlines is No. 1.

JetBlue blames a "domino" effect: The airline's morning flight is continually delayed in Newark, and that results in the airplane turning around late in Fort Lauderdale.

"It's the victim of the congested Northeast airspace, as well as associated weather in Newark and Florida," said Alison Eshelman, spokeswoman for JetBlue Airways.

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport rounded out the Top 5 most frequently delayed flights in February, claiming the other four spots. Fort Lauderdale hasn't made the list since 2005, according to a Bureau of Transportation spokesman.

Overall, on-time performance at South Florida airports improved in February. The Fort Lauderdale airport had on-time arrivals 66 percent of the time, compared with 63.5 percent a year earlier. Palm Beach International had on-time arrivals 66.9 percent of the time, compared with 61.4 percent the previous February.

Only Miami International Airport got worse, with 62.6 percent on-time arrivals, down from 66.1 percent in February 2007.

Marcia Heroux Pounds can be reached at mpounds@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6650.

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